Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Time To Tip Off Another Season
Nov 3, 2025, 12:03 PM
SALT LAKE CITY – Big 12 basketball tips off the second season of the 16-team era.
The Big 12 is looking to reclaim its spot as the top conference in America again in the 2025-26 season.
Last year, despite taking a backseat to the SEC, the Big 12 still had an impressive year, with seven teams reaching the NCAA Tournament, including Houston, which advanced to the National Championship Game.
The Coogs look to be the favorite once again in the Big 12, as Kelvin Sampson’s squad is chasing a third consecutive regular-season title.
Big 12 basketball is filled with star freshmen this season, headlined by BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit. Along with Dybantsa is No. 2 recruit Darryn Peterson at Kansas.
Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou, Houston’s Chris Cenac, and Arizona’s Koa Peat are other freshmen that fans should be keeping an eye on.
Last year, four teams from the Big 12 reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Those four teams look to be as strong, if not better, this season in Houston, BYU, Texas Tech, and Arizona.
Every Monday during the college hoops season, KSL Sports will give you weekly power rankings on Big 12 basketball.
Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings for 2025-26 Season: Week One Edition
Take a look at the week one Big 12 basketball power rankings.
1. Houston Cougars
This week
- Monday, November 3: vs. Lehigh
- Saturday, November 8: vs. Towson
It’s a younger team than we’re used to seeing in Houston, with a heralded freshman class in the program led by Chris Cenac. However, Milos Uzan, Emmanuel Sharp, and Jojo Tugler are back to bring that veteran experience that we are used to seeing from Houston.
2. BYU Cougars
This week
- Monday, November 3: vs. Villanova (Las Vegas)
- Saturday, November 8: vs. Holy Cross
The most anticipated season in BYU basketball history. AJ Dybantsa is a preseason AP All-American, and he teams up with elite shooter Richie Saunders and star guard Rob Wright. Could this be the year that BYU reaches its first-ever Final Four? They have never had a better roster than this one.
3. Texas Tech Red Raiders
This week
- Tuesday, November 4: vs. Lindenwood
- Friday, November 7: vs. Sam Houston
The defending Big 12 Player of the Year JT Toppin is back to team up with star guard Chris Anderson. Texas Tech was inches away from a Final Four last year.
4. Arizona Wildcats
This week
- Monday, November 3: vs. Florida (Las Vegas)
- Friday, November 7: vs. Utah Tech
Arizona could be the sleeper of college basketball this season. The Wildcats bring back one of the nation’s best rebounders in Tobe Awaka. Then they have a star-studded freshman class with Koa Peat and Brayden Burries.
5. Kansas Jayhawks
This week
- Monday, November 3: vs. Green Bay
- Friday, November 7: at North Carolina
Houston’s Kelvin Sampson said it best at Big 12 Media Day: Kansas is the “bell cow” of this conference. The Big 12 needs Kansas to regain its elite status.
For the past two seasons, Kansas has been a middle-of-the-road program. However, unlike the past two years, Kansas has some future NBA prospects in star freshman Darryn Peterson and Flory Bidunga in the frontcourt.
6. Iowa State Cyclones
This week
- Monday, November 3: vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
- Thursday, November 6: vs. Grambling State
Iowa State’s top priority in a light portion of the nonconference schedule is to get star guard Tamin Lipsey healthy as he continues to recover from a Grade 2 MCL sprain.
7. Baylor Bears
This week
- Monday, November 3: vs. UT Rio Grande Valley
- Sunday, November 9: vs. Washington
It’s an all-new roster for Baylor. Once again, Scott Drew has another heralded freshman who could be an NBA player in Tounde Yessoufou. However, the best player might be Oregon State transfer Michael Rataj.
8. Cincinnati Bearcats
This week
- Monday, November 3: vs. Western Carolina
- Friday, November 7: vs. Georgia State
It’s time for Wes Miller to get Cincinnati to an NCAA Tournament.
9. Oklahoma State Cowboys
This week
- Tuesday, November 4: vs. Oral Roberts
- Sunday, November 9: vs. Texas A&M
The Cowboys could be the biggest surprise this season in the Big 12. Year two under Steve Lutz, and the Pokes have an opportunity to make a statement in week one with a home game at Gallagher-Iba against Texas A&M.
10. Kansas State Wildcats
This week
- Tuesday, November 4: vs. UNC Greensboro
- Saturday, November 8: vs. Bellarmine
11. West Virginia Mountaineers
This week
- Tuesday, November 4: vs. Mount St. Mary’s
- Thursday, November 6: vs. Campbell
- Sunday, November 9: vs. Lehigh
12. TCU Horned Frogs
This week
- Monday, November 3: vs. New Orleans
- Thursday, November 6: vs. Saint Francis
13. Colorado Buffaloes
This week
- Monday, November 3: vs. Montana State
- Saturday, November 8: vs. Eastern Washington
14. Arizona State Sun Devils
This week
- Tuesday, November 4: vs. Southern Utah
- Sunday, November 9: vs. Utah Tech
15. Utah Utes
This week
- Monday, November 3: vs. San Jose State
- Saturday, November 8: vs. Weber State
16. UCF Knights
This week
- Monday, November 3: vs. Hofstra
- Saturday, November 8: vs. Vanderbilt
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
